Online Herbology Classes Overview

Online courses in herbology are typically offered through certificate programs or as part of broader degree programs in herbal medicine, though online degree options in this field are uncommon. Students can take online courses through various educational institutions.

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Essential Information

Herbology involves the use of herbs to maintain good health and treat illness. Those wishing to pursue online instruction in this alternative medical field will most commonly find introductory courses available through community colleges and schools specializing in alternative medicine. These courses may be offered as part of online certificate, undergraduate or graduate degree programs, though very few schools offer the degree programs. Students who want to take a class from a specialty school may want to choose a school that has been accredited by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Such an agency includes the Distance Education Training Council, which is recognized by both.

Online options become less common at the advanced level, and those who want to increase their knowledge beyond the fundamentals may have to continue their education with on-campus study.

Overview of Online Herbology Course

The following entry-level herbology course can be found online through various colleges and for-profit schools.

Herbology Course

Students gain an overview of herbology and the way in which it is used as part of an alternative healthcare regimen. They may explore the history behind the use of herbs in healing. They will usually study how certain types of herbal therapies affect and improve different systems in the human body, as well as learn how to prepare home remedies for use in first aid and in treating illness. Students can also learn about cooking with various herbs to improve nutrition and overall health.

A beginning course may also include learning how to identify and grow certain herbs, as well as their various properties and how they are used. These can include edible flowers and common herbs, such as dandelion, sage, chamomile, lavender and horehound. Potential practitioners may gain some of the knowledge needed to apply for membership in the American Herbalists Guild. The professional organization is the only one of its kind in the United States.